Boston Celtics: Pass or pursue on these 5 NBA trade deadline rumors

Pass or pursue: Evan Fournier, SG, Orlando Magic

Evan Fournier has been a rumored trade candidate to the Boston Celtics for years, a factor more so of the Orlando Magic’s mediocrity than anything else. Fournier is a good player on a bad team, and those tend to be available at the right price.

The Celtics ostensibly have the shooting guard position covered, starting Marcus Smart and sliding over Jaylen Brown when one of Smart or Kemba Walker sit. Yet Walker and Smart have both struggled with injuries, and you can never have too many wings. As Walker ages, the Celtics need to have options for lineups without Walker in them entirely to potentially close games.

Fournier is large enough to play either position on the wing, and his offensive prowess could juice things for a team who often devolves into watching Jayson Tatum and Brown take turns attacking. The ninth-year player out of France is a career 37.5 percent shooter from deep and has averaged 18.5 points per game each of the last two seasons.

With the Magic, he has been the second option alongside Nikola Vucevic, and with the Celtics, he would be the third or fourth. But his skillset works great for such a role, as he is a solid off-ball spacer and shooter who can attack closeouts. After treading water on the Magic for seven-straight seasons, he may accept readily a diminished role in order to play on a contender.

The question will be cost, especially as Fournier is a free agent this offseason. He makes just $17 million, so he fits easily inside of the trade exception. Yet the Magic surely have hopes of re-signing him as they continue to “keep the band together” on a team going nowhere. Will they part with Fournier for a late first-round pick? If the cost is low, he would be a great fit.

Verdict: Pursue